This 16″X20″ oil on canvas I painted from pictures I took several years ago near Waldo, Alabama at the Old Mill Restaurant and Covered Bridge. To the left of the tree is a very old covered bridge that no longer has access to and from it. To the right is a closed restaurant with a for sale sign in front. The main paved road is just in front of the restaurant and forest all around. Behind as I am taking the photo is a stream. Everywhere you look is the beauty of creation!

This is recent commissioned portrait for a friend. It is 11″x14″ on paper drawn with carbon pencil. For information on commissioned portraits contact at mikeiveyart@aol.com and visit my site at http://www.mikeiveyart.com to see more of my art.

I will be offering art classes for students in and around Cleveland, TN with an interests and propensity for fine art. I am offering private and group classes for youth to adult in oils, acrylics, colored pencil and pencil. I will offer basic drawing to advanced portrait help and will also help students with projects they are working on. You can see samples of my art at http://www.mikeiveyart.com and contact me at mikeiveyart@aol.com.

I recently finished this commission. I received six photos and some idea of what they wanted. The two dogs on the ground were looking up at Thanksgiving turkey about to be served in the photo I used and the two dogs in the ovals are faithful companions they recently lost. I decided to use the ovals as I have seen in old art work. The squirrel in the tree and the back ground were from photos of their back yard. Sometimes the composition is the biggest challenge of a commission because there are several things that the client wants in the drawing or painting. I always ask a lot of questions in hopes that I can let the drawing tell a story. They wanted it in oil but there was no way to have it done for a Christmas this year.

She loved it. Within an hour after delivery I received this email: “Mike, when I returned to the apartment I looked at the drawing more closely. The amount of detail is phenomenal! Every time I look at it I see something that I didn’t see before. It is truly exceptional. Thanks again for getting it done before Christmas. I couldn’t give my daughter a better gift. I would be happy for you to use my name as a very satisfied customer! Merry Christmas to you and your family. — Nancy”

Kevin Daniel “Sunshine” Yates was killed by an intoxicated driver August 1, 2011. I have the honor of serving with his mother and father as chaplains at the Harris County Jail. I gave the original 16″X20″ carbon pencil drawing to them as a gift.